Time-switch.



G. A. MANN.

TIME SWITCH.

APPLICATION rum) MAR. 27, 1909.

944,802, Patented Dec. 28, 1909.

UNITED STATES PATENT @FFIQE.

CHARLES A. MANN, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-EALF TO ROBERT S.MAYER, OF CINCINNATI. OHIO.

TIME-SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 28, 1909.

Application filed March 27. 1909. Serial No. 486.66?

To all whom it may concern:

- Be it known that 1, CHARLES A. MANN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Gincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio,have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Time-Switches, ofwhich the following is a full, clear. and exact description, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to time switches, and has for its objects toprovide means whereb a switch may be mechanically and positivelyoperated from an ordinary time mechanism, such as a standard alarmclock, to turn the current off or on at a predetermined time accordingas occasion may require and to provide, in combination with the timemechanism, simple and effective means for so operating the said switch.

I accomplish the above objects by means of the construction shown in thedrawings forming part hereof, wherein- Figure 1 represents a frontelevation of a. box or casing having therein a switch, time mechanism,and means for operating the switch, the cover of the box being open;Fig. 2 represents a .vertical sectional view taken through the cover andthe base on which the switch is supported, and Fig. 3 represents a rearelevation of the time mechanism and a sectional view through the springcasing, illustrating the manner in which the spring which operates theswitch is released at the end of a predetermined time interval.

Describing the parts by reference characters, 1 denotes a box or casingin which my i'nechanism is preferably inclosed. This box may be of metaland may have conveniently cast therewith a base 2 and spring drum orcasing 3. The base 2 is adapted for supporting the time mechzmism. Thistime mechanism, as shown herein, is a clock 4 of the ordinary alarmtype, provided with an alarm arbor having a key loop 5 for winding thesame. The alarm dial is omitted, its construction is well understood bythose conversant with the art. The clock is shown as cylindrical inshape and may be convcniently mounted in the cylindrical casing (3,having ears 7 by means of which it is secured to correspondingprojections 7 on the base 2. This casing may be slotted at the frontend, as shown at 8, for the accommodation of the legs 9 on the clock. Toretain the clock in place in the casing. a stud 10 may be provided,having a cross bar ll. The stud is adapted to enter a slot 12 in casing(L and to retain the clock in place. a spring 153 is c: rried by thecasing (3, said spring being forked and being curved to conform to andgrin the cross bar ll.

ll: denotes a projection carried by the casing (3. This projection isprovided with a stud l5 and on this stud slidably mounted a latch 16,said latch being provided with a slot 1? adapted to be applied to thebody of the stud. As will appear more particularly from Fig. the casing6 is provided with a slot 18 permitting rotary movement of the latch 16on its pivot. The parts are so arranged that the inner end of the latch16, when said latch is pushed inwardly along the stud. will engage thekey loop 5 when the latter is in vertical position and will be preventedfrom rotating on its pivot by said loop.

Attention has been invited to the drum or casing 3. This is preferablycast with the base 2, a all 19 connecting said drum and said base. Aspiral spring 20 is coiled within said drum and the wall 19 forms anabutment for one end of the spring. The other end of the spring projectsthrongl a slot at the top of the drum. This slot may be convenientlyformed beneath a. cap 21 having formed therewith a cylindrical extension2; The bolt 23 passes through this extension and through the bottom ofthe casing 'l and is secured to the bottom of said casing by means of anut 24. The extension 23 is of such length as to provid a slot betweenthe under side of the cap 21 and the upper edge of the drum or casing 3.Through this slot projects the operating end of the spring 20. Thisoperating end comprises two branches 25 and 25 arranged at substantiallyright angles to each other. the wire being looped at the intersection ofsaid arms, as shown at 26, thereby strengthening the bend at this placeand forming a convenient means for attaching the switch operatingconnection thereto. The end of the branch 25 is rovided with a hook 2'7,which is adapted to be applied to the outer end of the latch 16.

28 denotes a stop for the branch 25, said stop being conveniently cast.with the bottom of the casing 1. and with the drum 3 and base 2. Thespring is so formed that the branch 25 when disconnected from the latch10 will bear against the stop 28.

lVithin the casing 1 is located the switch 29. This switch may be of theordinary type, provided with a button 30 for operat ing the same andhaving a plurality of circuit-opening and closing brushes projectingfrom the spring stem to which the button is attached, as is ordinary inswitches for local incandescent lamp circuits. is is well known, theseswitches are arranged to alternately make and break the circuit at eachsuccessive quarter revolution of the switch stem by the button 30. Theswitch is shown as mounted upon a block oi insulating material 81 on thebase of the casing and is secured to said base by means of the boltsConductors 33 extend through the casing leading to and from the switchand being insulated from the casing by means of bushings S t.

As aconvenient means for operating the switch stem from the sprin Iprovide a flexible connection shown as a chain having a loop 36 at oneend adapted to be applied to the loop 26 011 the spring. The oppositeend of 35 is connected to an arm 37, said arm being conveniently formedof a sheet metal plate having an aperture shaped to conform to thebutton 30.

The operation of my apparatus is as "follows: Suppose it is desired toautomatically open the switch at a predetermined time. The alarm clockwill be set for this time and will be wound, care being taken that theloop 5 shall be left in such position that the end of the latch 16 maybe inserted thereinto. The latch is then slid along its stud until itsrounded end enters the loop, as shown in full lines in Fig. 3. The hook27 on the branch 27; ot the spring is then applied to the outer end ofthe latch. The loop 236 is applied to loop 26, as shown in 1 and 2. andthe arm 37 is applied to the button :30. l hen the time has elapsed forwhich the alarm is set, the arbor on which the loop 5 is mountedunwinds, disengaging the latch. This disengagement is facilitated by therounding of the inner end of the latch. 'lhereupon the spring within thedrum 3 acts through the flexible connection and arm to turn the button31,) and break the circuit. The stop 28 will be so arranged withrelation to the length of arm 37 and the throw of the spring arm as toinsure a sutticient rotation of the button 80 and its stem to break theconnection between the brushes on said stem and the brushes on theswitch members operating therewith. The position of the spring arms 25,25 and latch 16 after the above operations are shown in dotted lines inFig. 8.

The device shown herein is extremely economical of production, while itis oil? marked efficiency in operation. By its use, simple but effectivemeans a re provided. for automatically making or breaking an electriocircuit, occasion may demand, without any other attention than thesetting of the alarm and the connections between the same and the switchbutton.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. The combination, with a switch, ot' a clock having an alarm arborprovided with a loop, a sliding pivoted. latch having a rounded endadapted to engage said loop, a spring, a connection between said springand said switch for operating the same, and spring-restraining meansconnecting the spring with said latch.

The combination, with a switch having a button for rotating the same, ofa clock having an alarm arbor provided with a loop, a sliding pivotedlatch having a rounded end adapted to engage said loop, a. spring, aflexible connection between said spring and said button for impartingrotary movement to the same, and spring-restraining means connecting thespring with said latch.

3. The combination, with time mechanism having a part adapted to bemoved at a. predetermined time, of a pivoted member adapted to engagesaid part, a. switch, an operating member for said switch, a. springhaving two angularly disposed branches, one 01' said branches beingconnected to said pivoted member, and a. flexible connection between thejunction of said branches and the switch-operating member.

4-. The combination, with time mechanism having a part adapted to bemoved at a predetermined time, ot a pivoted men'iber adapted to engagesuch movable part, a spring having a. pair of angularly disposedbranches, a loop connecting said branches, a switch having an operatingmember, and a flexible connection between said loop and said members.

5. The combination, with time mechanism having a part adapted to bemoved at a pre determined time, ota pivoted. member adapt;- ed to engagesuch movable part, a coiled spring having an arm projecting therefromcon'iprising a pair of angularly disposed branches, a connection betweenthe remoter branch and said member a stop for the other branch, a switchhaving an operating member, and a flexible connection between saidspring arm and the latter member.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto allix my signature in the presence oftwo witnesses.

CHARLES A. IvlANN.

lVitnesses G. A. Gm'rnn, J. C. I-lnnMaNN.

